image [https://i.imgur.com/eY2gF5l.png]

"Mila, are you awake?" Graybeard called out from outside Mila's door, gently tapping on it to establish communication.

Having already dressed, Mila, though devastated by Arbious's recent departure, felt no motivation to work and saw no need to venture outside after completing their recent job.

"Damn it, girl. How long do you plan to stay holed up in there..."

After days of seclusion, Mila finally opened her door, her eyes darkened from the tears shed in recent times.

Graybeard embraced Mila, offering solace through his comforting hug. Mila's cry resonated with her profound pain, releasing her pent-up frustration onto Graybeard.

"I'm sorry, Mila... There was nothing I could do... Nothing any of us could do."

Graybeard entered the room, observing the scene that unfolded before him. Tissues littered the floor, the curtains were drawn shut, and darkness enveloped the space where Mila had been grieving.

"This isn't good for you, Mila. Step outside, breathe in the fresh air... There's a lot you need to know. A lot you've missed."

Mila nodded in silence as they left the room together, descending the steps to exit the building. Outside, the world was cast under a shroud of dark clouds.

"What has happened?" Mila inquired, her gaze fixed upon the brooding skies. The town stood deserted, its people silent, the world steeped in darkness, devoid of wind.

"A demonic invasion unlike any other," muttered Graybeard.

"A demonic invasion?" Mila questioned. "How is it even possible? Weren't the other Gods meant to keep the Demon God restrained?"

"They were, but somehow he has broken free from his shackles..."

A moment of solemn silence enveloped them as Mila processed the weighty information. The Demon God, his invading forces, what purpose did he seek to achieve? What did he hope to gain?

"We must leave, Mila... The people have evacuated this town. We can't stay here any longer."

"What has happened to the town? Why do we have to leave? Why is it so eerily quiet?"

Graybeard let out a somber sigh, his voice carrying a sense of unease. "The surrounding villages were ravaged by swarms of locusts, decimating their fields. And with the recent demonic invasion, it is no longer safe to remain in a village like this."

"Swarms of locusts?"

"Dark and mysterious magic is at work here... I will explain more as we go."

Graybeard made his way toward the northwestern gate of the town, and I followed closely, absorbing the stark new reality before me—the town, once bustling with life, now devoid of any signs of vitality.

"Where are we headed?"

"To the dwarven Kingdom north of here," murmured Graybeard. "It is there that we will find refuge from the impending war."

"An impending war? How much has transpired?"

"Tasildor has fallen, Mila... Only two trees of life remain. The demons now occupy a fortress in our mortal realm... the darkened skies above bear witness to their power."

Outside the gatehouse, two horses awaited us. Graybeard, using a stool, mounted his horse and gestured for Mila to do the same.

"Why the dwarven kingdom?"

"The dwarven kingdom is my home, Mila. Prince Avo has returned there, and we have received word of your uncle as well. We will find safety within its caverns, as the Demons would have to pass through the elven crossing, a treacherous path for them to navigate."

"My uncle is there...?"

"No... But he did manage to escape his captivity. He sent a letter from Octavia, south of Elven Crossing..."

"What did the letter say?"

"I have yet to read it fully, but he has sent this as an invitation for you to come to Octavia. He wants to meet with you soon."

meet with me?

Do you have everything you need?" Graybeard asked, his gaze fixed on me.

"Yes... I'm ready."

Before we set off, Graybeard turned his horse to face me. "Listen, Mila. Regarding Arbious, leave him in the past and move on with your life. You can't dwell on the past as you've been doing... We will head north from here, but we must take a slight detour. Within the caverns leading to the dwarven kingdom, I have heard rumors of an elvish bow forged by the Gods. If we can retrieve this relic, it might provide a chance to aid your people, but I need you in top shape to get this bow Mila."

"An elvish bow forged by the Gods?" Mila questioned. "I have never heard of such a thing..."

"You wouldn't have... it's a secret among us dwarves. We have been entrusted with safeguarding its existence for thousands of years, even though we have lost track of its precise location. It is an ancient artifact, forged by a God of immense power, whose very existence has been obscured by the ravages of time and war..."

"But if it has remained unclaimed all this time, I suspect we will face formidable challenges..."

"That's correct... The bow is heavily guarded by undead forces. We will undoubtedly encounter difficulties, but I believe we are capable of overcoming them."

"If that's the case, it must speak to the nature of the bow itself... Perhaps we should reconsider. The bow may be cursed."

"Cursed? You can't be serious... Listen, Mila, this bow will serve you well. You need a reliable weapon, and I believe you are the one destined to wield such a remarkable relic. I can envision you as a skilled elven archer, excelling in its use. Trust me on this."

"But I am a mage, not a ranger."

"It doesn't matter. You can always adapt and explore different paths. Just give it a try. I am certain the bow will aid you, and if there is indeed a curse, we can seek the assistance of a priest or someone knowledgeable in dispelling such enchantments."

"I highly doubt that a priest would possess the ability to remove a curse placed upon a weapon forged by a God."

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"Well, we're getting the bow, whether you like it or not. If the bow is cursed, we can simply leave it where it is and move on. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we must at least make an attempt."

"Fine," I reluctantly agreed, yielding to his insistence. Together, Graybeard and I rode off into the distance, venturing through the northern forests, the very same forest where we were tasked with hunting down the goblins. As we made our way, memories flooded my mind—of the undead goblin we had slain, the adventures shared with Arbious, and his unfulfilled promise.

Along the way, we encountered a few demons, but Graybeard skillfully maneuvered us around them, avoiding any unnecessary confrontation. Whatever Graybeard sought in acquiring the runic bow must have been of great significance, enough for him to risk his life without engaging the demons.

As night descended upon us, though it was difficult to discern due to the perpetual darkness cast by the looming clouds, Graybeard dismounted his horse.

"We will make camp here."

"Are you sure it's wise? What if the demons discover us?"

"We have no other choice. The horses need rest as well. If we continue without proper rest, we will be exhausted and ill-prepared for a fight. It's better to rest now than to risk a battle while fatigued."

Understanding the logic behind his words, I dismounted as well. Our supplies were securely packed atop the horses, but we had nothing extravagant like a tent—just a simple blanket and some provisions to sustain us.

"Mila, would you mind lighting a fire while I gather some wood?" Graybeard commanded, leaving me alone on the paved road to attempt to ignite a fire using magic.

Being skilled in fire magic was not my forte. My proficiency lay in wind magic, and I struggled to grasp the intricacies of other elemental spells.

Fire magic was often associated with destruction and deemed as a path towards darkness. It required a deep desire to harness destructive power, and the more one succumbed to such urges, the stronger their flames became. In fact, the practice of flame magic was outlawed in the Holy Kingdom, or so I had heard.

However, Graybeard's request was not for me to employ magic but to use flint and steel from my belongings to kindle a fire. I had packed a kit of highly combustible wood used specifically for camping.

Still, that didn't mean I couldn't utilize my magic to assist. After arranging the wood on the ground and successfully igniting it, I used my air magic to enhance the flames, intensifying their heat and brightness.

Graybeard returned with scraps of wood in his hands, placing them on the fire. The flames crackled and danced as embers swirled upward into the night sky.

I sat near the fire, awaiting Graybeard's company. Our horses stood nearby, tethered to a tree. Graybeard joined me, and together we relaxed by the warm and inviting fire.

"If only we had something delicious to eat. Something to quench our thirst," Graybeard lamented.

As I gazed at the darkened skies above, my thoughts drifted to Arbious and his parting words. Despite being a demon, he had spared my life. Could he be an anomaly among his kind? Was there something special about him that set him apart?

Though it had been weighing on my mind, I chose not to divulge these thoughts to Graybeard.

Graybeard scratched his arm with intensity, only to delve into a conversation.

Graybeard's gaze grew distant as he reflected on the recent events. "Tasildor fell just yesterday," he replied, his voice tinged with sadness. "The Holy Kingdom issued an official statement, sharing reconnaissance footage of the battle. It was pure terror, Mila... The Demon God... Those that serve under him, are evil... To take all those innocent lives, to destroy such a magnificent tree of life, only for the sake of entertainment or whatever twisted reasoning they have... It's disgusting."

I listened intently, trying to grasp the magnitude of the situation. "But... surely not all of them are evil?" I questioned; my mind set on Arbious who was a demon that was not driven by evil.

Graybeard's silence spoke volumes. His eyes met mine, filled with a mix of weariness and conviction. "I understand your sentiment, Mila. It's natural to hope for exceptions, but the reality is harsh. While there may be one or two who defy their nature, the majority of demons are consumed by darkness. It's not about discrimination; it's an observation that holds true."

He really dislikes them, and with good reason... The Demons aren't exactly kind...

"Do you have any knowledge about this Demon God? How did he rise to power? What is the backstory of the Gods?"

"The story behind them? You must be jesting! These tales are known worldwide. How is it possible that you are unaware?" Graybeard responded with surprise.

"Well, I haven't explored your perspective, and I never bothered to ask... until now. I assume each race has its own version of events. So, how did it all unfold?" I asked with genuine curiosity.

Graybeard chuckled amusingly and proceeded to enlighten me.

"Well, I cannot claim to be a scholar, but as dwarves, we have a tale of two original Gods. Initially, they existed in harmony. One embodied light, while the other represented darkness. Together, they maintained a balance in the world through their powers, and neither of them was inherently evil. However, something changed," I explained.

"What changed?"

Graybeard paused deliberately, seizing my attention as he continued, "A being was born... A being far more powerful than the gods anticipated... It was a creature of unimaginable strength, born from the deep-seated hatred that permeated this world. This entity became the very first demon, a creature born of pure evil. The Demon God. His malevolent influence grew rapidly upon his birth, plunging the world into chaos. Initially, he was nothing more than a mortal, but his wickedness and mastery of dark magic surpassed anything we had ever known. He grew so mighty that he created his own form of magic, the very first to do so, and with its aid, he managed to subdue the God of Darkness, usurping his powers."

"And what occurred afterward?"

"Curious, aren't you?" Graybeard smiled. "Well, the rest of the story is somewhat hazy, but just as the Demon God seized the powers of the God of Darkness, consuming his very essence, so did the very first Angel assiMilate the powers of the God of Light after forming his own version of holy magic, ascending to become the God of Angels..."

"Huh?! The God of the Angels was also a usurper?" I exclaimed, taken aback by this revelation.

Graybeard lowered his voice and replied, "Shh... not so loud. Yes, in a sense, he too acquired powers that were not originally his, but his intentions were different. He sought to save the mortal races."

Confused, I asked, "And the God of Darkness and Light simply accepted their fate?"

"There was nothing to accept. They couldn't do anything about it..."

"You must understand that, according to our tales, the two divine beings were embodiments of mana and power but lacked intelligence or consciousness. They merely existed, in other words, just large accumulations of mana. The two usurpers took advantage of their inherent nature and seized their powers," Graybeard explained, "and now, the Demon God possesses powers siMilar to those of the God of Darknes. But while the God of Darkness is an infinite source of mana, the Demon God is not..."

"However, there is more to magic than just that... like the whole ordeal with the scriptures, the lecterns of magic that guide us in their footsteps," Graybeard elaborated. "We now hold the basis of Godship as to beings powerful enough to create their own scripture."

"What about the lesser Gods?"

"There is an astronomical difference between the lesser and actual Gods. For one, the lesser Gods are simply beings who are powerful, not ones that have their own magic type. Another difference is their divine form, for a lower God cannot bare to maintain the mana cost to sustain a divine form, the way the Demon God and God of the Angels has. Because of their lack of ability to maintain such a form, they reside in their mortal vessels, easy to kill. To be a God, you must possess a divine vessel, have your own form of magic and scripture."

Graybeard continued, "The holy scripture, for example, created by the God of the Angels, provides us with a means to practice magic and manipulate mana, much like the Gods we worship. The demons follow the infernal scripture, an unholy book that grants them spells of darkness and destruction, while we follow the holy scripture, which encompasses light and creation magic."

"Your perspective is rather confusing," I admitted, trying to make sense of it all.

"Bah! That's precisely why I never shared our stories before. The truth is, it's difficult to determine how much of it is even real," Graybeard confessed, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"So, I can't rely on your accounts, then?" I questioned, feeling a sense of disappointment.

"You've got that right," Graybeard responded bluntly, emphasizing the limitations of his knowledge.

"We should rest while we have the opportunity... If we venture to the dwarven kingdom, I'm certain we can explore the archives and uncover more information there. My recollection is a bit foggy, so it would be unwise to rely solely on my words," Graybeard suggested, acknowledging the limitations of his own understanding.

With that, the two of us concluded our conversation, our eyes filled with weariness. We settled down to sleep in the chilly forest, watching as the fire gradually dwindled before us.

If the Demon God holds powers siMilar to the God of Darkness then he is capable of spells that go beyond our comprehension... So why hasn't he used them yet?